An escape from the heat for fun and high altitude acclimatization! Started up the Big Creek Trail late afternoon, rebuilt cairns, moved branches, etc. Several large trees blew down since last summer, but I'm not packing in a chainsaw . Got to the top, then cut through the trees over to High Peak Road #507, avoiding the Refugium. Started down High Peak Road while shadows grew long and a cool breeze picked up. Temperature check: 63 degrees Left a message with a friend in Phoenix about that. Hints of monsoon made for a rather long and sweet sunset. Encountered a few white tailed deer before hitting the highway. Turned west on the Swift Trail, and followed it back to Big Creek, arriving at dusk. Drove back to the Shannon pullout, dropped the tailgate, and had a smashed P.B. & J. sandwich for dinner. Dinner theater included watching the mountains between me and Tucson fade from burnt orange to black, Mt. Bigelow's towers blinking red, and bats circling above me in the moonlight. It was one of those evenings that I absolutely dreaded to go home!

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Give me Mr. Sun and a little coolin' breeze, and a long highway to do with as I please. -David Dudley

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